Colt Factory Engraved SAAs Description
slightly less than 1% (approximately 3,400) Single Actions are thought to have been engraved at the factory or elsewhere by authority from Colt between 1873 and 1940. Between 1873-circa 1929 Colt offered three basic grades of engraving with alphabetical designations - A (least coverage), B, and C (most coverage). Circa 1929-1936 Colt changed these alphabetical engraving designations to numerical, and became No. 1 (least coverage), 2, and 3 (most coverage). Many of these early SAA's also carried special inscriptions, initials, grips, etc., and because of this, the value ranges are very wide. Condition also plays a huge role here. Factory engraved black powder SAAs typically sell in the $10,000 to $100,000 range, while factory engraved smokeless powder SAAs usually peak in the $50,000 range. Very special or one-of-a-kind pieces, such as the seven known "panel" engraved guns, or one carried by a famous outlaw or lawman may bring upward of $300,000, depending on condition and particulars. Most factory work is documented in the records.